Friday, 23 August. Borussia Mönchengladbach 2 – Bayer Leverkusen 3. Although this was the opening fixture of the Bundesliga season (beginning a week after the other major European leagues), Bayer Leverkusen had already put in a stunning performance in the previous weekend’s DFL Supercup. Despite going a man down in the first half and conceding a second half goal to trail Stuttgart, late substitute Patrik Schick scored an equalizer near the end of regulation, and Xabi Alonso’s men won on penalties, continuing a pattern of late comebacks well established in their previous undefeated season.

A rocket of a goal from Granit Xhaka in the opening quarter hour suggested Leverkusen might have an easier run of this game, but Gladbach got themselves into the first half, and outperformed Leverkusen in expected goals 0.77-0.48. It was Leverkusen who added a second actual goal late in the half, though, Florian Wirtz eventually scoring off an Alex Grimaldo shot despite a double save by Jonas Omlin. In stoppage time, Tim Kleindienst appeared to have scored a scrappy goal for Gladbach, but VAR showed he had kicked through Piero Hincapié in the process and correctly chalked it off.

Despite a solid rain, the start of the second half was delayed by an extensive fireworks display from the home supporters. Around the hour mark, a free kick routine led to a Nico Elvedi goal that did withstand VAR review to pull one back for Gladbach. Then, with only 5’ remaining in regulation, Kevin Stöger began a dribble through three Leverkusen players before dropping the ball off to second half substitute, Tomáš Čvančara. Čvančara passed out right to Joe Scalley, who cut the ball back to Stöger in the top right corner of the box. He hit a diagonal pass into the top of the six-yard box, where Kleindienst managed to slip his shot under Edmond Tapsoba for a late equalizer.

With 10’ of stoppage time, however, Leverkusen still had time and initiative for a final comeback. Late on, Ko Itakura caught Amine Adli’s foot as he cut across the box, and while the play initially led to a dangerous Gladbach counter-attack by Čvančara, VAR eventually called play back and (correctly) awarded a penalty to Leverkusen. Omlin saved Wirtz’s initial attempt, but couldn’t clear the ball away, allowing Wirtz to score a late winner off the rebound.

The following weekend, Leverkusen’s remarkable unbeaten record in the Bundesliga would finally end, as RB Leipzig would edge them 3-2 in a home loss; but they would end 2024 in second place in the Bundesliga and fourth in the Champions League (League Phase). Gladbach, by comparison, would find themselves middle of the table, at eighth.

Tactical Analysis: Fotmob (Alonso’s Tactical Development).